Farm acquisition latest step in John’s racing Dance

30/11/2017

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JOHN DANCE, the owner of Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner Laurens, has exchanged contracts to purchase the Barnett family’s Fair Winter Farm in Buckinghamshire. Founded in 1981, the Barnett family have bred the likes of Best Terms and Pure Grain at the operation and will be forever associated with their brilliant racemare Time Charter. As a result of the sale, Newsells Park Stud in Hertfordshire will receive ten broodmares and nine foals from the family in the week following the Tattersalls December Sale.

The Barnett family will have eight horses in training for 2018 and have decided to retain four yearling fillies by Frankel, Kingman, Sea The Stars and Distorted Humor who all descend from the legendary Time Charter. Robert Barnett said: “We have had huge satisfaction over the years from owning the stud and breeding so much successful bloodstock, including Classic and Group winners. Ease of management has become an issue, as I have just turned 73, and it is time to think of what is best for the next generation.

“We will be continuing with our bloodlines and will be using a boarding out model in the future. We are delighted that the stud and loyal staff are continuing under John’s ownership.” Dance, who revealed his plans to purchase the stud last month, added: “It really is an honour to be taking over ownership of Fair Winter Farm, which has had such historical success and hopefully will continue to do so in future years. We look forward to working with the existing staff at Fair Winter and involving them in its future, which one day will include being home to Group One winner and Classic prospect Laurens.

“The farm will predominantly be used to home and breed bloodstock belonging to my wife and I on a commercial basis, whilst subject to capacity also being used as a boarding facility for external owners in association with Salcey Forest Stud.”